The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is offering New Jersey American Water $164 million dollars in tax credits over 10 years to build a new headquarters in Camden. In return, it says the private utility would retain nearly 600 jobs and add another hundred. The agency says the local branch of the company, currently based in the Camden suburbs, is weighing a move out of state.

American Water donated $50,000 to the Republican Governor's Association in December, just weeks after Gov. Christie stepped down as its chair. That month, the state legislature passed a bill making it easier for private companies like American Water to buy public water utilities. The governor signed the bill in February.

American Water is also on the board of Choose NJ, the economic development group that has financed the governor's international trips.

Christie's office points out that the bill that helps American Water was passed by the Democrat-controlled state legislature,  that the governor did not benefit from the donation to the RGA and any suggestion of a relationship between the signing of the legislation and the donations is "outrageous."

This story was updated to add Gov. Christie's response.